AC Milan 1-1 Cagliari: Five things we learned – same issues persist as big chances go begging

SempreMilan

·12 January 2025

AC Milan 1-1 Cagliari: Five things we learned – same issues persist as big chances go begging

Following the Supercoppa Italiana heroics in Saudi Arabia, AC Milan returned home with a simple task: win to begin a climb towards the Champions League places.

The first half settled into the expected pattern of Milan trying to break down Cagliari’s deep low block, and though they did provide plenty of energy the clear-cut chances were lacking. In fact, Mike Maignan made a wonderful save towards the end of the half to keep it level at the break.

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In the second half the Rossoneri picked up the tempo a bit and played more direct, with the opening goal coming in the 51st minute as Alvaro Morata tapped in a rebound from a Christian Pulisic volley that was saved onto the post.

Milan had the game where they wanted it after finally breaking their opponents down, but somehow four minutes later Cagliari drew level as Zortea’s shot beat Maignan after Youssouf Fofana had given the ball away and defended questionably.

Sergio Conceicao’s side had plenty of chances to regain the lead – with a couple falling to Tammy Abraham – but they lacked that clinical finish meaning they only got a point out of the game. Here are five things we learned from the game…

1. The coach can only do so much

Conceicao did a stellar job at the Supercoppa, but playing against the weaker side in the league was always going to be a different type of game. Those teams have no issue just sitting back and waiting for the chance counter, which has proven to work effectively against Milan.

This meant that the Rossoneri would have little space to work with throughout the game so being clinical in front of goal was a must. Under Paulo Fonseca we saw a lack of creativity and it was only individual brilliance that helped score.

2. Disastrous duo

Maignan and Fofana had a game to forget. We must preface things by admitting that the goalkeeper made a brilliant save in the first half just to keep things at 0-0, though that was undone for the equalising goal as a shot that wasn’t very powerful or well-placed slipped under his diving grasp.

Fofana, on the other hand, is the main man to blame for what led to that strike. The midfielder gave away the ball stupidly after trying to play a risky pass through the middle, knowing a lot of his team-mates were high up the field and that surrendering position would lead to a counter.

Then, after misplacing the pass, he failed to react quicker to stop his opponent, and then he did not commit a tactical foul to stop the transition. Admittedly he is one game away from a ban, but now if he gets that against Como on Tuesday he will miss Juventus away.

Fofana has without doubt been one of Milan’s best performers this season but if even he is making multiple errors on the same play – and then Maignan is letting an easy shot in – then it shows there is still a soft underbelly to the team.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

3. Struggling down the flanks

Leao and Pulisic were not at their this time around with the duo failing to really break that Cagliari defence down. The American was involved in the goal, yet there was some luck there too because the volley was well struck but straight at the keeper who then spilled it via the post to Morata.

Pulisic then missed a golden opportunity to give his side the lead again after his shot went at the goalkeeper, and Leao had provided the lovely ball for that. The American was of course vital in the Supercoppa and has been pretty much all season, so it was perhaps a rare day where it didn’t click.

Conceicao’s options were limited too and as a result the forwards are having to work overtime which must affect their sharpness. It is interesting to see if the American will be shifted towards the centre since he has great football IQ and movements in tight spaces but lacks the explosive pace out wide.

Leao also had a bit of a slow game by his standards. Given the opponents were playing so deep, he didn’t get the same space in transition to attack, and when asked to pick the lock rather than run at it like a bulldozer he often struggles.

In truthhe had little space to work with, and both Morata and Abraham didn’t really help with the link-up play, which feeds into the strikers issue Milan have this season.

4. Struggles in front of goal

Abraham has had an interesting season thus far as he had managed to bring energy off the bench and offers different characteristics compared to Morata, but when it comes to being deadly in front of goal he too – like the Spaniard – has proven to be far from efficient.

Against Cagliari it was no different as he positioned himself well and made the right runs but then he lacked the composure to finish off the attack. The cross he met from a few yards out he for some reason tried to chest down, then when through on goal he telegraphed his finish a bit.

5. Seizing the opportunity

To finish things off on a positive note, it’s fair we complement Davide Calabria on his performance after returning to the starting XI following injury issues.

He contributed well to both phases of the game even making a crucial tackle in the first half that prevented Cagliari from breaking the deadlock with a low cross in behind.

In attack he also did well as he made some good runs and combined with his team-mates, but a right-back should never be the player you look at after a game like that and demand more from.

Given Emerson Royal’s very up and down performances throughout the season it seems like a no-brainer for Calabria to get more playing time and compete for a spot in the line-up, while waiting for potential news on Kyle Walker’s arrival.